Verbals over Showdown hit preceded Rankine’s alleged homophobic slur

The AFL investigation into Adelaide star Izak Rankine’s alleged homophobic taunt has been told that the incident was preceded by a verbal exchange between Rankine and Collingwood player, Dan Houston.

There is no suggestion that Houston used inappropriate language, or that he was the target of Rankine’s alleged sledge.

However, the byplay between the pair, which referenced an incident in which Houston concussed Rankine during last year’s Showdown, may have led to a war of words between players from the two clubs on Saturday night.

Two competition sources speaking on the condition of anonymity alleged that Rankine directed the slur “f----t” towards a Magpies player during the tense match, however The Age is not suggesting the Houston exchange led directly to the alleged insult aimed at his teammate.

An announcement on any ban for Rankine was delayed until Wednesday as discussions continued over an appropriate penalty.

The AFL has been adamant since penalising Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finalyson for three matches last season that use of that homophobic slur during matches is unacceptable.

The Crows will be given time to respond to any potential sanction by the league, which could be up to five matches based on previous penalties handed out after similar incidents. The Crows were still awaiting that communication late on Tuesday afternoon.

Rankine did not self-report the alleged comment to the Crows, but has reportedly shown his remorse since the AFL integrity department launched its investigation on Monday following communication on Sunday between the Magpies and Adelaide. This masthead confirmed Rankine rang his Collingwood opponent on Sunday to apologise.

The match-winning midfielder loomed as a trump card for the top-of-the-table Crows in this year’s finals series, but could be ruled out for the rest of the club’s season if he is suspended for four games or more. The Crows are hoping for a penalty that considers the significance of missing finals matches, as opposed to home-and-away games.

A suspension of four or five matches would be consistent with previous on-field matters of homophobic vilification investigated by the AFL. Gold Coast’s Wil Powell received a five-match suspension in 2024, and West Coast’s Jack Graham received a four-match ban after telling his club he had used the slur during a match against the Giants in July. In handing Graham four matches, the AFL considered Graham’s “self-reporting of the incident, along with his private apology and contrition”.

If he is banned for four matches, Rankine would remain an outside chance to return for the grand final if the Crows lost the qualifying final and then won their next two matches. If the penalty is five matches, the star forward’s season is over.

Teammate Taylor Walker said Rankine was “very remorseful” and ready to accept whatever penalty the AFL imposes on him.

“I spoke to him [Rankine] last night on the phone, and he is very remorseful and he understands that he’s made a mistake, and he’ll accept whatever comes his way,” Walker told Triple M Breakfast in Adelaide on Tuesday.

Walker would have some understanding of Rankine’s position, given he was banned for six games and fined $20,000 in 2021 following an AFL investigation that found he’d racially vilified a SANFL player, an act he said at the time he was “deeply ashamed” of.

“He [Rankine] hasn’t been outside and he had a full day of investigation with the AFL yesterday,” Walker said on Tuesday.

“I know that our footy club is a very positive and supportive environment, and we will support ‘Ranks’, however we don’t agree with what happened.”

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